SOC 3319 Protective service occupations

Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. Salary

Median salary £41,592 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £42,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For protective service associate professionals n.e.c., £44,007 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +13% versus the national average. Experienced protective service associate professionals n.e.c. (top 25%) earn over £51,765.

About this role

Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified include roles in border control, immigration enforcement, security intelligence, trading standards and other protective service functions not covered by specific codes.

Key responsibilities

Enforcing regulations and protecting public safety
Conducting investigations and gathering intelligence
Carrying out inspections and compliance checks
Preparing reports and case files
Working with partner agencies on enforcement activities

Qualifications and entry routes

Varies by role. Border Force officers undergo Home Office training. Trading standards officers require CTSI (Chartered Trading Standards Institute) qualifications. Security roles may require DV or SC clearance.

Career outlook

Post-Brexit border arrangements and evolving security threats maintain demand. Trading standards faces recruitment challenges due to qualification requirements.

Key skills

Investigation Regulatory knowledge Attention to detail Report writing Decision-making

Common industries

Border Force
Trading standards
Security and intelligence agencies
Regulatory bodies
Environmental enforcement

Data coverage

SOC code 3319

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 36,000

Median Salary

£41,592

Mean Salary

£44,240

Jobs (000s)

36k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £31,627Median: £41,592P75: £51,765

P10: £23kP25: £32kMedian: £42kP75: £52kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£22,807

0-2 years

Mid Level

£31,627

3-7 years

Senior

£51,765

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +127% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +19.2%Real growth: -13.6%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 15.4%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£41,592

Full-time Only

£44,007

Full-time premium: +£2,415

Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. salary: common questions

How much do protective service associate professionals n.e.c. earn in the UK?

Protective service associate professionals n.e.c. earn a median of £44,007 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £31,627 and £51,765.

Is £44,007 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for protective service associate professionals n.e.c.?

Entry-level protective service associate professionals n.e.c. typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £31,627, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £22,807.

Have protective service associate professionals n.e.c. salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median protective service associate professionals n.e.c. pay has risen from £35,170 to £44,007 — +25% in cash terms, or -9.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for protective service associate professionals n.e.c.?

Male protective service associate professionals n.e.c. earn a median £44,455 and female protective service associate professionals n.e.c. £37,596 — a gap of +15% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).